Venetian blind operating fixture



A G. D. DODGE VENETIAN BLIND OPERATING FIXTURE y Agg. 24, 1937.

Filed Sept. 24, 1934 SQ .Nw

V 22 O \/J, W.

, Patented Aug. 24, 1937 PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND OPERATING FIXTURE George D. Dodge, Evanston, Ill.

Application September 24, 1934, Serial No. 745,219

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a fixture for Venetian blinds, and particularly to sheave or roller mechanism and cord holding mechanism.

The primary object of the inventionA is to provide a xture, having a plurality of sheaves, hereinafter termed rollers, which `are constructed and arranged to permit the operating cord of a Venetian blind to be operated from the front of the blind. l

Another object of the'invention is to provide a front operating cord holder for Venetian blinds, which comprises a unitary structure having rollers of different diameters, over which the operating cords pass, and which is provided with spaced rollers through which the cords pass, to

impinge the cords and prevent downward movement of the Venetian blind due to its weight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact, unitary structure adapted to be fastened to the top bar of a Venetian blind, and which is provided with rollers spaced at right angles to their axes, so that the cordmay be positioned around one set of rollers and pass over another set of rollers to permit front operation of the Venetian blind, which fixture is also provided with spaced legs, having a pair of rollers arranged therebetween through which the cord is adapted to operate, the cord being impinged i between thel rollers when pull on the cord is released.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specication.

The accompanying'drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is adetail elevation of a Venetian blind and embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. l..

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the improved xture, showing the cord holder in' operative relationship therewith.

Y Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

\ The Venetian blind herein shown, for the purpose of illustration, comprises an upper supporting member or top bar 6 which is fastened by means of bracket 1 to a window frame 8. A bracket 9 is operatively fastened to the top bar 6 and supports a tilting bar I0. Rollers II and yI2 are revolubly mounted in the top bar 6, and an operating cord I3 passes over these rollers and through alignedppe'nings in the slats I4. Tapes I5 are fastened to the tilting bar I0 and to the Venetian blind bottom bar (not shown) to support'the slats and to hold them in spaced vre lationship. 'I'he top bar 6 and the tilting bar 5 I0, the manner in which the Venetian blind is operated, its mode of fastening, and the construction of the blind, are well known in this art, and thereforefurther description thereof need not be made. l0

A supporting fixture I6 is provided with a horlzontal ledge or supporting portion I1 (Fig. 4)

`which is adapted to be fastened by suitable fastening means I8 to the top bar 6. 'I'he xture I6 also comprises a vertically, downwardly exl5 tending, U-shaped or channel-shaped portion I9, comprising downwardly extending, oppositelyA disposed side legs 20 and 2| which are integrally connected by arearportion 22. A pivot Ypin or axle 23 passes through the spaced legs 20 and o. 2| and supports a roller 24 and a smaller roller 25. These rollers are at right angles to operating rollers 26 and 21 which are mounted on 9. pivot pin between the ledge I1 and an integral ear 28 bent from a part of the ledge. The roller 25 26 is larger in` diameter than the roller 21, the rollers 26 and 21 being substantially the same size as the rollers 24 and 25 respectively. The rollers 26 and 21 are valsol substantially the same ysize as the rollers I2 and Il, respectively.` In 30 other words, the rollers II, 21 `and 25, respectively, 'are smaller 'in diameter than the rollers I2, 26 and 24.

The operating cord I3 is a double cord, comprising an upper cord 29 and a lower cord 30. The cord I3, including both parts 29 and 30 there f Y of, passes over the rollers Il 'and I2, the upper cord 29 passing over the large roller I2 and the lower cord 30 passing over the small roller Il. The upper cord '29 also passes over large roller 40 26, and then making a right-angle turn, passes over large roller 24. The lower cord 30 passes over the smaller roller II and the smaller roller 21 and then makes a right-angle turn, passin over smaller roller 25. 45 In the conventional form of Venetian blinds,

a singleroller of substantially a width equal to a pair of the present rollers is employed, the cord operating over this wider roller.

The double cord, when operating over the single 50 or wide pulleys or rollers, has a tendency to twist and also to become dislodged from the roller .and become impinged between the side oi' the roller and* the edgesurrounding the recess into which the roller is mounted. The use of the. 55

double rollers of different diameters tends to hold the cords in their proper position, prevents twisting of the cords, and causes the blind to operate more easily. 5 A pin 3l passes through the spaced legs 2l and 2|, and a roller 32 is arranged between the legs and is revolubly mounted on its pivot pin or axis 3|. Rearwardly of the axis or pin 3| there is a second pin 33 which is mounted in oppositely disposed slots 34 formed in the legs 20 and 2|. A second roller 35 '(Fig. 5) is revolubly mounted on the pin or axis 33. 'Ihe second roller 35, therefore, has revoluble movement on its pin or-axis 33,-an d. inasmuch as the `pin or axis 33 l5 is slidably mounted in opposed slots 34, the second roller 35 may be said to have vertical slidable movement as well as rotative movement in respect to the legs and 2|.

The rollers 32 and 35 are substantially hexag- 20 onal in longitudinal cross-section, each being in the form'of two frusto-cones or pyramids with their bases fixed together to provide a lcentral portion 35 which is greater in diameter than the ends of the rollers. In other words, the rollers 25 32 and 35 have their greatest diameter at the center or crest 36 'and taper off toward their ends 31. From the ends 31 of these rollers toward their center or crest 36, there are provided a plurality of facets which merge as at 38 (Fig. 5),

' 30 there being relatively diamond-shaped facets :s

between the contacting edges of the facets 38. Broadly, therefore, the rollers 32 and 35 may be said to be egg-shaped, having facets arranged r about their peripheral surfaces. 'I'hese rollers are so constructed as to provide for instantaneous and positive gripping action on the cord the precise moment the cord is released from the operators hand. This positive action is accomplished by the two rollers 32 and 35, the roller 32 being 40 fixed and in constant position, while the roller 35 is free to work upwardly and downwardly on its floating axis 33. The particular shape of the rollers 32 and 35 causes this grippingaction. The consecutive flat surfaces or facets around the entire periphery of each of the rollers is the nucleus of the positive gripping action, and the floating action of one of the rollers is the cause of the instantaneous feature. In practice, it has also been found that rollers constructed in ac- 0 cordance with rollers 32 and` 35 cause no appreciable wear on the Venetian blind operating cord. In applicants co-pending application, Serial No. 745,220, filed September y24, 1934, Vanother form of device embodying rollers similar to the herein rollers 32 and 35 is disclosed and claimed.

The invention provides a compact, unitary structure adapted to be fastened to the top bar of a Venetian blind for causing positive and easy operation of the Venetian blind and permitting mating operationef theblind.

The rollers Il and l2 mounted in the top bar, and the rollers 24, 25, 26 and 21 mounted in the fixture, tend vto keep the-cords in proper spaced relationship and prevent twisting thereof.` The cord-gripping rollers 32 and 35 provide a, truly automatic device, in that as soon as the operator lets go of the hoist cord, the blind will automatically stop at the precise moment. There is no need of holding the cord or positioning it in any manner to cause the stop rollers to function. The high sensitiveness of the stop rollers does the work automatically. A slight tension must be kept on the hoist cord when the blind is to be lowered, as otherwise the sensitiveness of the u floating roller 35 will sto'p the action which, as

outlined above, it is itsduty to do. Therefore, when the blind is only partly lowered, the cord will be gripped, but when it is desired to operate the blind, the cord is released when a slight tension is exerted thereon. lDuring the lowering operation of the blind, it is preferable that the cord be held out a slight distance so as to prevent contacting engagement of the cord with the rear or floating roller 35. When the cord isrso held, the gripping action will cease and the roller 35 will drop to the bottom of its guide-slot 34. When the blind is raised by pulling on the cord, the roller 35 will stay in its lowered position.

' However, as soon as the cord is released, the reverse action or movement of the cord, then being in engagement with the roller 35, will pull the roller 35 upwardly so that the cord will be impinged between the roller 35 and the roller 32.

As soon as the cord is-released', the movement thereof will cause the lower sliding roller to move upward in its guide-slot 34, at which time it will be in gripping relationship in respect to the fixed roller 32. By making the rollers 32 and 3 5 relatively egg-shaped, that'is, by having the rollers higher in the center and tapering on' toward their ends, each part 23 and 35 of the cord I3 will be properly divided and thereby avoid the trouble caused by the tendency of the cords to twist.

The invention also provides a Venetian blind fixture having a two-fold purpose. The first purpose is the provision of' the rollers or sheaves of different diameters, whereby the cords will be divided and operate about their respective aligned rollers. This arrangement prevents the old troublesome twisting action of the cords. Another important feature is that the double rollers or sheaves help to eliminate a considerable portion oi the friction usually encountered in front operating blinds by preventing the cords from twisting and by providing a single, separate roller or sheave for each part of the double cord. The combination of the automatic stop with the double roller or sheave type of front fixture is also of great aid and importance in preventing twisting of the cords, as the particular and peculiar shape and construction of the rollers 32 and 35 tend to separate the two parts of the cord. 'I'he gripping or stop rollers cause instantaneous and positive gripping action on the cord the moment the cord is released by the operator. Of course, instead of providing two separate rollers, I2 and I3 or 25 and 21 or 24 and 25, a single roller with a large and small diameter may be employed. It has been found preferable, however, to make the rollers separate instead of having a single roller of two diameters because the rolling action of each separate roller is permitted to attain its desired rotative speed regardless of the speed attained by the cooperating adjacent roller.

The device is relatively simple in construction, is positive and efficient in operation, can be readily and quickly assembled, and it may be applied to existing blinds.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the. scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. In combination, a Venetian blind having a lifting cord of two parts, rollers about which said lifting c'ord passes, there being a separate roller for each-part of the cord, the roller for one part of the cord being greater in diameter than the roller for the other part of the cord, both rollers being mounted on a single axis.

2. In combination, a Venetian blind having a double lifting cord, rollers about which said double lifting oord passes, said rollers being of different diameters and mounted on the same axis.

3. In a Venetian blind, the combination of spaced pairs of rollers, the rollers of each pair being of diierent diameters being mounted Ion the same axis, anda double lifting cord operating on said rollers.

4. In a Venetian blind, a pair of rollers mounted on a horizontal axis, a second pair of rollers spaced from said first pair of rollers and mounted on a vertical axis, and other rollers mounted on a angles to the second named pair of rollers, one roller of each pair being of different diameter than the other roller of the pair.

5. In a Venetian blind, a pair of rollers mounted on a horizontal axis, a second pair of rollers spaced from said first pair of rollers and mounted on a vertical axis, and other rollers mounted on a. horizontal axis and arranged in a plane at right angles to the second named pair of rollers, the rollers of each pair being' of a different size.

6. In a Venetian blind having a double lifting cord and rollers over which said cord passes, said rollers being of different diameters but mounted on the same axis.

'7. In a Venetian blind having a double lifting cord and rollers over which said cord passes, said rollers being of different diameters, and a fixture fastened to a part of said blind and having different size rollers revolubly mounted thereon and over which said cord passes.

8. A Venetian blind fixture comprising a supporting member, a pair of rollers carried by said supporting member and mounted on a vertical axis, a pair of vertical spaced legs carried by said supporting member, a pin passing throughfsaid legs, and a pair of rollers revolubly mounted on said pin between said legs, said last named pair of rollers lying in a. plane perpendicular to the first named rollers, one roller of each pair having a diameter different from the diameter of the other roller of the pair.

9. In a Venetian blind, means forproviding front operation of said blind, comprising a xture fastened to a part of said blind, said fixture having a supporting ledge, an ear bent from said supporting ledge, a. pair of .rollers mounted be-.

tween said ear and a part of said ledge, a pin passing through said ear and a part of said ledge and upon which said rollers are revolubly mounted, a U-shaped bracket extending downaxis of the second pair of rollers being perpendicular to the axis of the iirst pair of rollers, the smaller roller of said rst pair of rollers being substantially the same diameter as the smaller roller of the second pair of rollers `and similarly the larger roller of the rst pair of rollers being substantially the same diameter as the larger roller of the second pair of rollers.

11. In a Venetian blind, a bracket, said bracket carrying a vertical axis, a pair of rollers, said rollers having diierent diameters, said rollers being free to move independently of cach other on said axis, a second bracket operatively asso-A ciated with the first bracket, said second bracket carrying a horizontal axis on which is mounted a pair of rollers substantially similar to the rst described rollers, said second bracket also carrying a knurled roller mounted therein on an axis substantially parallel to the horizontal axis of the rollers thereof, said roller being slidable toward and away from the horizontal axis of the rollers, and a second knurled roller mounted in the second bracket and rotatable about 'an `axis substantially parallel to the axis of the first kriurled roller, said second knurled roller being y substantially tangent to a plane parallel to the 'plane passing between the axis of the flrst lmurled roller. and the horizontal axis of thel tia ly parallel to the axis of the pair of rollers,

said second lock roller being .iixedly mounted with respect to the pair of rollers and so located in juxtaposition to the pair of rollers and the first lock rollerthat its surface will be intersected by a line tangent to the rst lock roller and the pair of rollers.

, GEORGE D. DODGE. 

